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The inspiration and the starting point for all the concept sketches and for the main concept idea, was undoubtedly the location of the plot. The very first concept idea was to create a linear house with all the main uses on both floors located parallel to the forest with big openings and views to the forest, while all the secondary uses to be located parallel to the road and have less openings in order to achieve the maximum privacy for the owners.
After a few sketches the main concept was already there; the idea of having two controversial elevations, a more private front elevation achieved by a hard surface facade, offering isolation from the road’s noise and a transparent rear elevation achieved by a glass structure giving incredible views and connection to the forest park.
The house plot is positioned in a safe neighbourhood for children, at a walking distance from schools and many other amenities, and literally located at the front line directly connected to the forest park. It is located right where the residential boundary finishes and where the natural boundary begins thus, the plot ends right where the forest starts. The North façade, which welcomes the main entrance of the house and faces the road, keeps a more private character in both levels of the house. On the other hand, the rear south elevation which faces the forest park offers transparency and continuous connection of the internal areas with the outdoor rear pool garden and the forest park.
The construction elements used for the reduction of the building’s energy consumption are thermal insulation bricks and exterior thermal insulation. The energy efficiency double glazed windows along with the thermal aluminum systems keep the house warmer in winter. The solar panels installed on the roof are one of the most important sustainable construction materials used especially in Cyprus where most of the year there is plenty of sunlight. The double height space is part of the design technique to help the air flow and circulation. The house obtained the International Property Award 2022-23 for the Best Single Residence Cyprus and the Five Star Award for the Best Single Residence Cyprus.Also it was featured in the Villas 2023 magazine among the 14 best villas around the world.
One of the key areas of the design regarding the exterior is the mystery created behind the North elevation causing enthusiasm of what you are about to face when entering the house. The North façade, which welcomes the main entrance of the house and faces the road, keeps a more private character in both levels of the house. On the ground floor, the privacy is achieved by the vertical timber batten system which gives the flexibility to the owners to unfold it whenever they desire, while on the first floor it is achieved by the white painted solid volume where a cut out interrupts it and a feature tree appears small behind the white vertical fixed aluminium posts.
On the other hand, the rear south elevation which faces the forest park offers transparency and continuous connection of the internal areas with the rear pool garden and the forest park. In both levels; ground and first floor, the connection with the outdoor area is achieved by the large glass openings throughout all the south elevation length. The planter along the south elevation, parallel to the bedrooms brings the nature on the first floor and creates a double layering of nature when looking over the bedroom large windows. That is one of the most important key areas of the exterior design.
Internally the unique staircase design along with the metal bridge are the main key areas of the interior design since, different scenarios are created regarding the light and shadows, the use of space and the view.
“Every space of the house should be both minimal and warm, have a lot of natural light and a strong connection with the forest park, simply to feel at home not only for us but especially for our three boys”. Those were our clients’ words at the very first meeting, when asked to describe how they were dreaming of their future house, and of course were confirmed when the house was finished.
VM Studio + Architects is an awarded architectural firm based in Nicosia,Cyprus, founded by the architect Vrachimis Moutiris.
The studio provides services and consulting work in the fields of architectural design, interior design and construction management.
VM Studio is a team-based architectural practice thus the collaboration is the key factor that brings the best results in our design. VM Studio is empowered by a team of six licensed, innovative and skilled architects from different backgrounds, shared the same passion for architecture and design delivering solid results through the process of creativity. The studio works on projects all over Cyprus and in Europe.
